New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-30
MRS. P0TTBFs DEBUT.
A COLD AND CRITICAL AUDIENCE.
HER TRAINING AGAINST HER CRITICS SAY SHE
NEEDS ONLY LITTLE MORE EXPERIENCE.
fpY CIHLE TO THE TRIBUNE


her debut tonight at the Haymarket Theatre as Anne
sflreser in wilke Collinss Man and Wife" The part
proves to be one nsui ed to her. and the play Is Old
fashioned and stale Her success in such circumstances
Is proof Of her dramatic abilities and courage rare
indeed All her social prestige seems to have weighed
against her. least 1t failed to help her at the start
The arket contained audience OF such rank ana
fashion seldom seen In any London tncare
Among those present were the Prince Of Wales with
Lord sufied and Others The Princess OF wales
had been Unexpectedly detained. The united Suites
Charge d'AfTaires and Mrs. White, and MI Charies
Phelps Second Secretary OF the United STATES Legauoh,
where In the front stalls, with large parry OF
friends Caroline Duchess Of Monrose, sat just benihd
them Baron Alfred de Rothschd was In box over the
Prince, and Mr. and Mrs. Bancroft, with party were
opposite while above them the Earl and Countess
dc Grey Lady Ribblesdale and Sir Charles
Tenant. Elsewhere to be seen the Earl and
Countess OF leicester Lord Charles Bereaford Viscount
and Curzon. Lady William Ncvill Lord and
Lady Elcho. Mr.. and Lady Clementina Milford, Lady
Harcout LAZY Hayter Marquise de santurce, Countess
dAubigny. from tlfe French Embassy, Lord and Lady
Londesborough, Lady Monckton. Mr. Childers cir
Frederick Haines Sir Algemon Borihwick, Mr. and Mrs
W. S. Gilbert, Mr.. Burnand and George lewis Henry
Calcraft Major Seymour Wynne Finch, George Curzon
Guy Refton and many others represented the ged side
OF London life. Ellen Terry in during an entr'acte
from the Lyceum Theatre Joseph Chamberlain was in
a box with Colonel and LAZY Blanche Hozier and
Baroness de Bremen.
Tho American delegation besides the diplow-
atists included Mr. and Mrs. Wilton Pbipps, Mrs
Adair, Mrs. Arthur Post Mrs John Steward,
Mrs Bloomfield Moore and many others. But this part
Of the house was undemonsratve Mrs. Potters ap-
pearance while the rest she either unknown or an
object of dislike as lady making her entrance upon
tue stage and perhaps also American. Tho general
public showed itself determined that nothing should go
by favor The first attempt at applause after the scene
with Geo0rry Dcldmdy1, was hushed, and much
applause at the end OF tho first act was met In
similar way. / asked experienced critic what 1t
meant. lie said "ro'." I think it was hostility.
But the people have not made up their minds and they
do not mean let Mrs Poers fashionable friends
turn verdict for them. She won her way slowly
The play dragged and everybody felt this
1t was drawn out OF date No human being
could feel feign much interest in the story or in
OF the characters characters What little cheer
lness there at the beginning. in the croqnct scene,
which itself seemed to be anachronism vanished ere
ten minutes were over The tragic is struck the
moment Anne comes In contact with Geotrey Thence
forward melancholy has marked this piece for Its own
Mrs. Potter took lnne in too high key, perhaps.
at the outset, but what be done with victim who
upon the stage announcing her resolve TO XIII
herself then and there her wrongs which gen.
uine, are redressed The play proceeds by an anti
climax and contains perhaps not single situation so
strong In motive the first This falsy OF con-
struction less pcrceptible to an English audience
when Man and Wife first presented fifteen years
ago. English audiences less critical then than now
but to nj the revolt against the dramatic absurdties
OF the play strong that nobody could completely
overcome IL
Mr. willard who played the part OF Geocrey popular
and excellent actor was greeted his appearance
with warmth that emphasized the GOODNESS shown
toward the debuante He wrestled vanly with the i'm
possibilities thrust upon him, and there were moments
when Mrs. Potter was not on the stage, when
tho house seemed disposed to have done with
the play and for all Had the
piece been nothing could have saved It No acting
would have carried II through to the end.
do not think that at the end OF the hrst act the
impression Mrs Potter had made was favorable
People thought her too intense. too much on
the strain. Her effects were forced rather than
natural and simple and her nervousness
evident This Off the second act proceeded
and the curtain fell general but enthusiastic ap
plase sun the sombreness Of the whole action bur
dened what goodwill there was too heavily Everything
was In shade everybody called. like Ajax for light
The which ragged about the inn at Craig
Ferne not good storm. The house rather vel
coined the chance OF laughing at the end OF this act
which supposed to be AnnSs best Mrs Potter
played IL with FAR efpossession than the more
violent one in the first act, and at the moment
with authority which made itself felt
Her voice firm. resonant aud always clear Her
gestures though sometimes abrupt were never meaning
less and were often forcibe and effective She has little
to the act nothing. indeed Till il is almost
over that little she did better The situation Is
real but the actresses belief In It genuine and her
real Tho fourth act would try the
Of the most experienced actress Anne always on the
stage and always full view, has little say
the time All depends whether she silently MI
the stage not Mis- Potter passed safely ana happy
through this ordeal
While the play grew worse as it went on. the actress
certainly increased her hold on the audience Practically
the verdict OF the evening made mp by the emu OF
the third act, when Mrs. Potter twice recalled.
Critics ana experienced playg9ers whose crit
cism !, not professional seemed pretty S,S well Of
one one MINI an 'I romarsh,e SsSTre has
fine natural gifts still lDcompletey developed. has the
unqneston.bo strength She is sale by one OF the pest
English critics TO be born actress ana
others thought that for the purposes OF her debut she
should have been taught, II anything. to underact
Moreover conflicting II not irreconcable dramatic
tending with each oher-French and English
What be said of the whole matter is that under all
tonight taken long step toward that high position on
the stage which mo0s surely sGeronc awaits not much Gsl
else But the critics think that she ought to
act parts n Which r give II. n S Inse sde 81
to drama. when the exigencies OF her part allowd-not
Mrs Potter to smile she instantly had audience with
her Her smile brought cheer and murmur OF general
delight G.w.s
THE PRINCE OF WALES MUCH PLEASED.
LONDON March 29-Mrs James Brown Potter, who
made her debut at tie Haymarket Theatre this evening.
very favoraby received by brilliant audience The
Prince OF Wales expressed himself as very much pleased
with her performance and predicted for her successful
theatrical career
COMMENTS AND ADVICE OF THE CRITICS.
LONDON March 30-The Daily Neics says: " Mrs. Pot
ter has valuable gifts She has good presence mobile
features and clear resonant voice. which varies in ex-
PRESTON but method is overolaborae The audience